Blog Archives

Advent, a Baby, and a Calendar

11/30/2015

Sunday was the first day of the Advent Season. It's a time of anticipation and preparation for the coming of the King. I wrote about ithere if you'd like to know more about Advent.

I’m thankful for the team of 30 plus writers who joined forces with me and my friend, Ken Sanchez and his son Rob, to create a beautiful Advent devotional and a breath-taking 2016 inspirational wall calendar. The two projects are being sold together over at Ken’s website, Sovereign Artistry.

I’ve been working on the devotional project for four and a half months. It includes 30 reflections on 4 of the names of Jesus taken from Isaiah 9:6—Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Ken selected 12 of his amazing photographs, asked 12 college friends for an original meaningful quote, and then spent tedious hours with his son Rob to design the calendar.

I would be humbly honored if you would take a look at this project and prayerfully consider buying one or more calendars. (There is a discount when you purchase 2 or more.) You can find the link by clicking on the picture above. Please know that 100 percent of the proceeds (after printing and shipping costs — approximately $10 per calendar) will benefit the Florida Bible College Alumni Association, a non-profit organization. The FBCAA seeks to provide benevolence toward families grieving from illness and death, grant college student scholarships, and support mission efforts throughout the world. All of us that contributed to this project are either alumni or friends of the college. The college closed its doors in 1996, but will be reopening in 2016. More information at Florida Bible College is available on their website.

I thank you for your kind consideration. To God be the glory.

More Than a Baby Advent Devotional

This is the cover of the e-book that is in pdf format. Upon purchase of a calendar over at Sovereign Artistry, you will receive an email with the download instructions and password to be able to get behind the page I have under password protect here on my website. So for those of you who have been wondering what's behind that page that says FBC Alumni, now you know!

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So What is Advent Anyway?

11/29/2015

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Today begins the season known as Advent. It's always been a special time for me and my family. We never did the Santa thing with our kids growing up, but I won't go into that right now. What I want to share are some excerpts taken from an e-book project I've been working on for the past four months. "More Than a Baby, Reflections on Isaiah 9:6" contains thirty devotionals covering the four names of Jesus Isaiah 9:6 mentions: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Excerpts From the Introductory Devotional titled, "What is Advent?"

“Christmas is upon us. The month of December will spin by in a flurry of activity and render us exhausted and seven pounds heavier. What a bleak, dismal thought. Is that all there is to this holiday season? Yes, if that’s what we are out to celebrate—a holiday.

But there’s more to Christmas.

Christmas is a celebration of the first advent—Christ’s coming to earth. “And the Word become flesh, and dwelt among us. . .” John 1:14 (NASB) Christ is Christmas! Apart from Him, there is no Christmas. He came to us in a form that we would recognize. He had growing pains and skinned knees, just like us. And yet He was so unlike us—He was more than a baby, He was and is the Living Word of God. Perfect in all things. He breathed life into our very being, and with that breath He placed within us a desire to seek Him, to know Him. . .”

“He was born into humanity to become the Savior of the world. He’s the only one qualified to save humankind from the plight of sin and separation from God. One of His names is Prince of Peace. He came to set us right with God. He’s more than a baby, He’s the Son of God, He came to give His life as a ransom for all the world. He completed that transaction through His death, burial, and resurrection.

Advent is the celebration of His coming to earth as God’s solution to our problem of our sin separating us from God. Instead of leaving us condemned to eternal death and separation from Him, He gave us His Son as the provision for our greatest need. What a Gift! . . .”

“Every baby is a gift, but no ordinary baby could ever give the gift of eternal life. Jesus is More Than a Baby; He is God incarnate. God’s love lavished upon us.”

And a Sample from Day One-The First Sunday of Advent

The closing prayer from today's Advent devotional. It touches me every time I read it.

"My precious, Wonderful, Miraculous Counselor, Thank You for guiding my life and leading me with Your wisdom and counsel. I sit at Your feet and lean into You and Your words as You direct my steps. Help me to know Your will and release mine. Humble my heart as You teach me Your ways. Your counsel is what my heart desires. I love You, my Lord."

Both the prayer and the first day Advent devotional are by my friend, Patti Shaffer.

Do you celebrate Advent? If so, do you use an advent wreath, candles, a calendar, a devotional reading, or something else? Please share with all of us in the comments below.

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The Thanks Living Life

11/24/2015

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Every day remember to look around you. There’s so much to be thankful for. His creation speaks, reminding us to give Him the glory and to thank Him daily. God's grace is found in every moment of life. His gifts to us are rooted in the simple things and heaven's glory is displayed in the ordinary. Spending life spinning our wheels chasing after more rather than chasing after God leads to a downward spiral life.

It's a lack of doxology that leads to depravity. He's given us everything we need to point us to Himself, but when we fail to give Him glory and thanks for all things, we are heading down a slippery slope. Wickedness isn't rooted primarily in some ghetto, or some shady backstreet. It all begins with an act of forgetting to give Him glory and to give thanks to God. (Romans 1:18-21,28)

Remember your roots, as one who has received Christ Jesus. Being rooted and built up in Him, strengthens your faith, and causes your life to overflow with thankfulness. (Colossians 2:6,7) Are you modeling thankfulness? Is it a part of your legacy, how you will be remembered? Make giving thanks part of your every day life. Live a life of thanks living.

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The Unchanging Goodness of God

11/18/2015

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Daily I'm reminded that our circumstances are not an accurate reflection of God's goodness. Whether life is good or bad, God's goodness, rooted in His character, is always the same.

Because God is good and everything He does is good, we can rejoice in knowing it was His goodness that provided salvation through His Son. Look around. . . do you see it . . . the proof of His goodness all around you in the life-sustaining provisions He supplies; crops that provide food, to the very air you breathe.

And when trials come, we can be certain His goodness is in the hard times as well."But as for me, the nearness of God is my good: I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all Thy works." Psalm 73:28

He desires to fill us with His goodness so we will in turn desire to do good to those around us. Rest in His goodness, mercy, loving kindness, and faithfulness today and every day.

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